“Odd,” Khent murmured. “The blood on your clothing belongs to something caught between life and death. Not a zombie,” he said before Kraft could ask. “This feels like one of my companions.”
“He means the undead minions he keeps,” Kraft explained.
Khent’s eyes narrowed. “They are notminions.They’re pets, nonliving companions who serve without question. Something you would do well to observe and follow.”
Kraft huffed. “The point, Khent, is that this thing I fought wasn’t alive or dead. But it was a vampire. Strigoi yet it moved like a revenant.”
“Interesting. I need to study this. Kraft, give me your clothes.”
“Right now?” Riley asked, staring.
“Why is it still speaking?”
Kraft loved the scent of deepening earth, direwolf fury building in his new “companion.” Hey, if Khent could bandy that term around, so could Kraft.
“It’s no problem.” He stepped out of his clothing, bare-ass naked, amused that Riley met his gaze and only his gaze, refusing to look below his chin.
Khent gathered the stained clothing and left.
Mormo remained, looking back and forth between Kraft and Riley. “Riley, I do appreciate you helping to track down our artifact.”
“Ourartifact, you mean,” she said. “The truth is, the small statue of Hirpus is lycan, not vampire. And not witch, no matter how much your goddess might lay claim to it. I mean no disrespect, but that statue belongs to my pack and my people.”
“I can see how you might feel that way, but Hecate needs use of it for a cause greater than pleasing your pack,” Mormo answered in a polite voice.
Riley said back, just as politely, “I would like to speak with Hecate to discuss the matter.”
“Well, aren’t you cute being all mannerly,” Kraft had to say.
She bared her teeth at him, those tiny human teeth just adorable. He felt a twinge between his legs, excited and showing it. Riley looked down for a fraction before whipping her gaze back up to his face. But the damage had been done. Twin blossoms of embarrassment reddened her cheeks.
My life is now complete.Kraft laughed.
She glared at him, ignoring Mormo, who studied them both.
The magician shook his head. “We’ll continue this discussion later. For now, Kraft, go clean up. And take Riley with you.”
“What? Why?” Riley said.
“Because if I leave you by yourself, some hungry vampire will snap you up in no time.” Kraft hefted her over his shoulder without effort. Despite her denser bone structure, his strength made her weight a nonissue.
“Put me down, fanger.” She sounded strangled as her hands slid over his lower back and ass while she did her best not to touch him.
“I will, no worries.” He passed Orion and Rolf on his way to his room. The pair simply nodded and continued their discussion as they moved toward Mormo in the kitchen.
Kraft ignored Riley’s sputtering and attempts to get down, made more difficult because every time she pushed up on his bare skin, she as quickly pulled her hands back. But he understood her confusion. Every touch sent heat sparking through his veins, causing his cock to stand up at attention, wanting more.
He pushed through his bedroom door and locked it behind him, aware Riley had gone still. He could feel her breath on his back, and her warmth enthralled him. He never wanted to move again, keeping her just as she was.
“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless.
“Carrying you to safety. No one will mess with you in my room.”
She pushed up off the small of his back, and he barely contained a groan of pleasure. “Mess with me?”
“You’ve met Khent. Do you really want to be alone with him?”
“Ah, no. But—”
